Letter-box



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.- W. 0. TAYLOR LETTER BOX.

No. 432,254. Patented July'15, 1890.

(No Model.) ZSheets-Sheet 2. i W. 0. TAYLOR.

LETTER BOX. H 432,254, I Patented July 15. 1890- UNITED STATES IVILLIAM O. TAYLOR,

OF ALDEN, ASSIGNOR TO J. S. MASON & 00., OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,254, dated July 15, 1890.

Application filed April 25, 1889- Serial No. 303,603- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ILLIAM O. TAYLOR, of 'Malden, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Hail-Holders, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a mail or package receiver adapted to be applied to doors and similar places which are provided with an orifice, through which the mail or other packages or articles are passed.

The invention consists in the combination with a movable or pivoted holder or receiver and a latch located back of the opening in the door to hold the said receiver in its normal position. A bell or other suitable indicator is provided, adapted to be sounded or operated when mail-matter or any article is deposited in the receiver.

Figure 1 shows a rear side view of a door provided with a mail-receiver embodying this invention; Fig. 2, an edge view of the door and mail-receiver shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8, an edge view of the door and mail-receiver shown in Fig. 1, the receiver having dropped into substantially horizontal or its abnormal position; Fig. 4, a detail to be referred to, and Figs. 5 and (5 modifications to be referred to.

The doorA or equivalent object having an orifice a (see dotted lines, Figs' 1, 2, and 3,) through it may be of any suitable or usual construction, and the orifice may be provided with a drop-shield a to close it exteriorly. A latch b is pivoted to a suitable support I), fixed to the base-plate b adapted to be attached to the door A. The latch 1), as herein shown, comprises two arms arranged at right angles with relation to each other, one of the arms carrying the latch-hook and the other arm extending downward, and as located on the support I) crosses the back of the opening a through the door, so that when a letter or other object is passed through the opening a the rear end of the latch will be engaged and moved to lift the latch, as indicated in Fig. 3.

A mail holder or receiver is employed, it being herein shown as a plate 0, having flanged or upturned edges and pivoted to the base-plate b at c. The holder or receiver 0 is formed at the top, as at 0 to he engaged by the latch 19 to hold the said holder or receiver in vertical or normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To prevent the latch from releasing the holder or receiver 0 by slamming the door or by excessive jar, I have herein provideda spring 11 the free end of which bears against the said holder or receiver, so that when the holder or receiver is engaged and held by the latch the tendency of the spring will be to cause the latch to engage more firmly and to be released with greater difficulty. Two rods or bars 2 3, loosely connected together at one end, as at 4, and also at the ends, one to the base-plate b and the other to the mail holder or receiver 0, are provided at each side of the said holder or receiver, and also at each side a guide-rod 5,having a passage or slot for the pivot 4, is loosely mounted on the pivot 0. These rods and bars serve to hold the mail holder or receiver when. released in substantially a horizontal position or at a slight or sufiicient incline to hold the mailmatter, which position is the abnormal position of the holder or receiver.

In operation a lettersueh, for instance, as a (see Fig. 3)-is passed through the orifice in the door, and by it the latch is released, permitting the mail holder or receiver to fall by gravity, aided by the weight of the mail-matter 'into its abnormal position, as

shown in Fig. 3. To indicate when mail-matter is so passed through the orifice an indicator is provided, (herein shown as a soundindicator,) consisting of a gong d, secured to the mail holder or receiver, and a striker d, carried by a spring-arm or spring-acting striking-lever (1 To effect movement of the striking-lever, the striker d is provided with a groove or recess (P, which, when the mail holder or receiver is in its normal or vertical position, receives two spring-acting arms (1 secured to a cross-piece or support (I said arms serving as spring-retainers to hold the striker for a short time as the mail holder or receiver falls and thereafter releases it, that the striking-arm may, by its spring action, strike the gong.

In lieu of releasing the mail holder or plate with a latch or equivalent moved by an object which is being pushed through the orifice, a latch or equivalent moved by the d ropshield a maybe employed,as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be seen that the mail holder or receiver herein shown occupies normally such a position that it takes but little space, and when moved outwardlyor from the door into its abnormal position it takes much more space, but presents the mail-matter in a way which is very easily accessible.

I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular form or construction of holder or receiver, but consider that any holder or receiver movable toward and from the object to which it is attached to come within the scope of my invention. Nor do I desire to limit myself to any particular means of holding the receiver or to the construction of said means, or, in fact, to the employment of any latch or equivalent, as by referring to Fig. 6 a holder or receiver is shown devoid of a latch, and in instances when the object to which the receiver is attached is stationary such a form may be employed. Thus it will be seen that material modification may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim- 1. An inside mail holder or receiver consisting of a plate, frame, or equivalent pivoted at or near its lower end to and movable toward and from the object to which it is attached, its upper end being normally in contact with said object, and an orifice in said object for mail-matter or other articles, the entrance of such matter impinging against and moving the upper end of the receiver away from the object to which it is attached to expose the contents thereof, substantially as described.

2. A mail-receiver consisting of a plate,

frame, or equivalent movable toward and from the object to which it is attached, a retaining-latch located back of a mail-receiving orifice in said object, and the interposed spring I)", attached to the latch and adapted to prevent accidental release of the same, substantially as described.

3. A mail -receiver movable toward and from the object to w rich it is attached and latch for holding it, adapted to be moved by mail-matter or other articles, and the rods or bars for holding said mail-receiver in its abnormal position, substantially as described.

4. A movable latch located back of an orifice and a mail receiver or holder held by it, adapted to be moved and to receive an object passed through the orifice, said latch being released by the said object, substantially as described.

5. A mail holder or receiver and a retaining-latch, combined with an indicator the operating member or striking-lever ot which is moved when the mail holder or receiver is moved into its abnormal position, substantially as described.

6. An inside mail holder or receiver consisting of a plate, frame, or equivalent movable toward and from the object to which it is attached, said object having a hole through it for mail-matter or other articles, combined with a latch or equivalent for holding the mail receiver in its normal position and adapted to be acted upon by such mail-matter to release the mail-receiver, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subseribin g witnesses.

\VILLIAM O. TAYLOR.

XVitnesses:

BERNICE J. Novas, FREDERICK L. EMERY. 

